House put on Farm Bill amendment allowing industrial-hemp research, encouraging advocates

Before the House rejected the Farm Bill, it added to it an amendment by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) allowing colleges and universities to grow and cultivate industrial hemp for academic and agricultural research purposes in states where it is already legal, without fear of federal interference. The amendment passed by a vote of 225-200, despite lobbying by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Industrial hemp, defined as a particular strain of cannabis with very low levels of THC, is produced in some 30 countries for use in a wide variety of fiber and textile products," Lydia DePhillis reports for The Washington Post. Even though some states have legalized its cultivation, U.S. law still treats it the same as marijuana." (Read more) While the Farm Bill is in limbo, hemp advocates say the vote spurs them to add the language to other bills.

Nineteen states have passed pro-hemp legislation legislation, Nick Wing reports for the Huffington Post. Eight (Colorado, Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia) have defined industrial hemp as distinct and removed barriers to its production; Hawaii, Kentucky and Maryland have passed bills creating commissions or authorizing hemp research. (Read more)